EQUALITEA #1
Contents EQUALITEA Issue One Cover Illustration by: Marja de Sanctis Editor: Abitha Pallett
Art by Risa Witten 2 Feminism is NOT a dirty word 4 Art by Abitha 5 Poetry Corner 7 Interview w/ SaVonne Anderson 9 Crossword 12 Credits 14
Š Risa Witten
Feminism is NOT a dirty word by Abitha Pallett
Going to an arts uni, I thought I would be surrounded by creative liberal people. A very wise woman (shoutout to Mrs Egglestone!) once told me that ‘To assume is to make an ass out of you and me.’But I could never assume that feminism would get such a bad wrap from my peers. The usual ‘I believe in equality but I don’t call myself a feminist’ popped up and one young man turned heads in a lecture with the line ‘Feminists just don’t seem to know what they want’ which iniated a ooh-thats-going-to-hurt face from our lecturer in response. Too often feminism is being associated with misandry. Of course we don’t hate men, we just want to be equal to them. And nobody is asking you to burn your bra, quit your personal hygeine rituals or start hating pink. Feminism is the belief that everyone has the right to make decisions about their own body. It’s the belief that just because we are women doesn’t mean that we should accept lower paychecks. Feminism is the belief that tampons shouldn’t be classed as ‘luxury items’ whilst men’s razors aren’t. Feminism is about people not being confined to their gender roles or forced to live in a body they do not feel is their own. Feminism is the belief that all people should enjoy the same fundamental rights whatever sex they identify as. And to my peers who think feminism ended with the female vote, I promise you it is still an issue. Whether it lies in the cat calls that follow you on your way to uni or the injustice of female genital mutilation in lands far from our own. The issue is all-encompassing. It is worldwide. And when you believe in equality of the sexes...you believe in feminism.
By Abitha PallettŠ
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Strip me of my flesh and you will find nothing more than blood and bones Strip anyone of their flesh and you will find nothing more than blood and bones Yet we are told to bow our heads down We live ashamed of our anatomy Why are we letting our biological traits determine so much? We are more than our body You walk around holding your head high and mighty A crown is rested on your head whilst your fellow knights go out to fight wars We are weak, we sit at home watching the battles commence Yet some of us long to take part You enjoy your power while it lasts But in reality you’re choking back tears Because society refuses to see you crumble They can see you proud, they can see you angry But God forbid you show any sign of sadness With one slight quiver of your lips, you become less of a man If I shout and demand If I lust or lead I am no longer pure and lack in femininity If I wear too little or too much I am classed as a lesser For doing what I want We are all more than this Gender, an excuse to set rules and regulations based on traditional views We can embrace or we can ignore ButWe are all the same Why must we judge or be judged On something that shouldn’t and doesn’t Determine our value. - Emmie, 17, London
Does a woman grow in beauty When she fulfils her lifely duties Spreading joy, love and peace Speaking words on which to feast Finding and never letting go Of that she adores Believing she can be her own uplifting force? Does she make gains When she refrains from: Letting the darkness Swallow Her Whole From never letting go of her ultimate goals From dwelling on life’s bitters twists? I believe she does so I made this list. Abitha Pallett
An Interview With..... SaVonne Anderson
What motivated you to write this book? What was your thought process? I have a story,just like all women,that hasn’t been told. Women and girls of color, especially, are silenced and told that our experiences and concerns don’t matter. I wanted to write something to give voice to our stories and to help us survive and thrive in a world where we are systematically oppressed. That’s how The Womanifesto came to be. I decided to create a book of personal essays with each title as an affirmation (I deserve to be loved, My voice is important, My happiness is not selfishness). These affirmations and personal essays are meant to be repeated and used as reference for times when you need a word of encouragement, some guidance, or just to be reminded that you are important. My wish is that this book encourages girls and women to embrace their womanhood proudly and to be the best versions of themselves. How much of the book includes your own experiences? The entire book is about my own experiences. Each essay is based on something that has happened in my own life in addition to experiences of other women and girls I know. I believe that our experiences are as important as any historical research or scientific studies. Without knowing what girls and women are going through, it is impossible to figure out a way to make the world a safe and happy place for us to live in. Was it challenging to include them? It was very challenging to do so at first. I’m a very private person and don’t share a lot of my personal life with people I’m not close with. In the early writing pro-
cess I kept my statements general and broad without really giving details about why I feel a certain way or what experience I have to back up my arguments. I quickly realized that being this private isn’t going to help anyone and a lot of the things I’ve been through are not unique to me. There could be someone else going through the same thing that needs to know they’re not alone. There could be someone that needs guidance on their journey that I’m able to provide. What are some of the main issues affecting intersectional feminists today? I think one of the main issues affecting intersectional feminists is recognizing privilege. Even as a black woman, who many people consider are the most disadvantaged in our society, I have privilege as an able bodied, cis-gendered, heterosexual, middle class, educated person. In order to be truly intersectional in our feminism it is important to TRULY be for all women, including those who don’t look or act like us. Another issue intersectional feminists face is “white mainstream feminism.” Feminism has definitely become more popular lately but it is a watered down, cis-hetero-normative version where white women have the voice. While Hillary Clinton, Amy Poehler, and Lena Dunham are influential and I applaud them for bringing feminism into mainstream culture, it is dangerous to the feminist movement that they are the only white female faces we see. For intersectional feminism to thrive we need to have a more diverse image of what feminism looks like. What can we do to help spread awareness of intersectional feminism today? Spreading awareness of intersectional feminism means calling out feminists who are exclusive to one type of person. Spreading awareness means letting people who don’t identify with mainstream feminism know that there is space and place in the movement for them too. Where can we purchase a copy of your book? Pre-order is available now and copies will be delivered on June 18. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YV66TE0 Photos supplied by SaVonne Anderson ©
Across 2 My body, my ...... 4 What natural event should governments stop taxing as ‘luxuries’?
5 MarRef Country 6 The hatred of men (not what we’re about) 7 The fair treatment of all individuals
Down 1 SaVonne Anderson’s debut book 3 Jenner in the news
CREDITS I couldn’t have made this zine without the help of some amazing creatives and their contributions. Here is a list of everyone involved and where you can find them on the web: Cover Illustration - Marja de Sanctis www.marja.co Art - Risa Witten risawitten.tumblr.com Poem - Emmie woven-wolf-heart.tumblr.com Interview - SaVonne Anderson www.savonneanderson.com You can reach me on the following platforms: Abitha Pallett www.abitha.co.uk www.facebook.com/abithaarabella Twitter - @abitha_arabella Instagram - abitha_arabella Email - bookings@abitha.co.uk Accepting submissions for Issue #2 !